Showing posts with label Rock n' Roll. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rock n' Roll. Show all posts

Sunday, February 11, 2024

The Prize/The Unknowns - split 7"


When it comes to blockbuster split EPs, Bargain Bin Records may have just taken the cake. Up for order now is a team-up between two of the best bands in Australia and two of the best bands in present-day rock 'n' roll. The Prize from Melbourne emerged a couple years back as perhaps the most promising new power pop group to come down the pike in years. The Unknowns have been standouts of the Brisbane garage/punk scene since 2016 and have only gotten better with each new release. Now these two bands share a piece of vinyl, and you're going to want in on the action. When we talk about how the Aussies have got it going on, this record is solid proof. While we await a momentous full-length debut album from The Prize, they've delivered a couple more smash hit tracks here to quench our thirst. If you like punk-influenced power pop with big hooks and arena-sized guitars, "One Day at a Time" will float your boat and power it across an ocean. Following up their brilliant album East Coast Low, The Unknowns are back with two more tracks of catchy old school buzz-saw punk with energy to burn. The vinyl comes in two colors and may be difficult to procure outside of Australia. At the very least, two of these four tracks are available now from the streaming sites and well worth snagging for your listening pleasure. If you're not listening to these two bands, you are really missing out! 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Friday, February 09, 2024

The Sleeveens - self titled


I knew The Sleeveens were something special within thirty seconds of hearing them for the very first time. Here was a band that was totally up my alley yet absolutely unique and original. The singer was a a poet and a presence. The band had chops for days. The music had power and guts but also made me want to sing along and get up and dance. "Give My Regards To The Dancing Girls" struck me as an instant classic and a true anthem of our times. I was immediately left wanting more, and thankfully I didn't have long to wait. Out today on Dirtnap Records, the self-titled debut album from The Sleveens is the best punk rock record I've heard in a damn long time. It will delight fans of classic British and Irish punk rock, yet it feels fully fresh and current in the year 2024.  

The Sleeveens were born when Irish songwriter Stef Murphy (Count Vaseline/The Mighty Stef) and Stiff Little Fingers guitar tech Jamie Mechan met in Nashville, Tennessee and immediately formed a musical partnership. With the addition of Ryan Sweeney (Cheap Time) and Eli Steele (Sweet Knives), the band's lineup became complete. The group wasted little time establishing itself as a formidable live act, and "Give My Regards To The Dancing Girls" was released to tremendous acclaim on Sweeney's Cheap Time Records. The full album will quickly dispel any speculation that the brilliance of the single was some kind of beginners' luck. Murphy, a gifted songwriter with a background in a number of musical styles, brings something different to the '77 punk rock 'n' roll style. 

The Sleveens will no doubt bring to mind the heyday of record labels like Chiswick, New Rose and Stiff Records along with hints of early Clash and Stiff Little Fingers. But those broad influences are just one part of a sophisticated musical identity. No two songs sound alike, and The Sleeveens prove themselves adept at everything from punchy pub rockers to aggressive punk rippers to heartfelt ballads to pure pop songs. Recut for the album, "Give My Regards To The Dancing Girls" is sped-up and stripped to its essence — yet no less of an anthem. "Metallica Font," the album's second advance single, is a powerful ode to friendship and a blistering slab of rock 'n' roll. In a perfect world, "Aretha Franklin" would go viral and prompt the masses far and wide to adopt "Pissing in the eyes of your racist uncle!" as their new mantra. "Dry Cider," a nearly six-minute slow-burn, meets every definition of an epic. "Glory Holes" combines the creativity of post-punk with the speed and force of hardcore. "Tales from the Megaplex" channels the fury of first generation street punk in a fully modern context. "Paulie Says" is the kind of perfect pop song all great punk bands ought to be able to write. Oh, and there's an Undertones cover as well!

On their full-length debut, The Sleeveens deliver a bulletproof release. I can't find a sub-par track, and different songs emerge as favorites every day depending on my mood. Murphy's lyrics are some of the best I've heard in recent rock 'n' roll — and when he sings, there's no question he means every word. Dirtnap Records is no stranger to consequential albums in the modern punk universe, and it has another game-changer on its hands with The Sleeveens. Of course those hooks can't be denied, and this band rocks like a motherfucker. Beyond that, this is music that's life-affirming, exciting, and full of passion. Something tells me I won't lose much sleep trying to decide on a number one album of 2024.

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Sunday, January 28, 2024

Brad Marino - Ramones and Stones EP


The man is back! Brad Marino releases his first new tracks since his album Grin and Bear It on a new 7" which features his 2023 digital smash "Ramones and Stones" and three brand-new songs. Essentially, this is the sequel to Marino's 2022 Ramonescore album Basement Beat. All four of these songs are in the style of early Ramones. And Marino continues to be an exception to my rule that no mere mortal has any business trying to sound like the Ramones. I don't know what it is about Marino, but he has a real talent not just for pulling off Ramonescore but also truly thriving at it. Perhaps it comes down to this guy just being a damn good songwriter who can put his own personality into a tune even when he's worshipping at the altar of the almighty Ramones. 

The title track is one of Marino's signature songs — a proclamation that there are really only two bands in all of history that he truly needs in his life. This was too good of a song to only exist in the digisphere, and now you can own it on orange vinyl thanks to Ghost Highway Recordings. It's backed by three more quality cuts. "Theodora" hits the pure pop side of the Ramones and could almost pass for a missing track off Rocket to Russia. I always like it when Marino channels his inner Joey Ramone, so of course this track is a favorite. "A.D.H.D." is a total thumper worthy of a position on the top shelf of Ramonescore. "Teenage Monstrosity" has that raw first album Ramones feel and would have fit right in on Basement Beat. Amazingly, this EP is almost a one-man show. Bobby Davis plays bass on two tracks. But otherwise, Marino plays everything and does a stellar job of recording himself. All in all, this is a perfect EP and a must-own if you're a Marino fan. Copies from Marino's Bandcamp are sold out, but this vinyl is well-worth tracking down. Just when I thought I was out on Ramonescore, Brad Marino pulls me back in!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Friday, December 15, 2023

Nite Sobs - Fade Out


One of my most pleasant surprises from The Year That Cannot Be Mentioned was Do The Sob!, the debut album from The Nite Sobs out of Austin, Texas. Hearing it, I had an instant "Where has this band been all my life?" moment. The album was chock full of perfect pop songs with roots in early rock 'n' roll, and in my book it remains a true hidden gem of contemporary power pop. "Where has this band been the last three years?" has been my question of late, and the answer is that Nite Sobs have been hard at work on a just-as-good follow up to Do The Sob! Out now on Family Spree Recordings, Fade Out finds Nite Sobs dutifully refusing to fix what wasn't broken. Again the band delivers track after track of harmony-laden, melody-driven rock 'n' roll that reminds us that there would have been no Beatles without Buddy Holly and the Everly Brothers. If we had to wait three years for a second helping of Nite Sobs, Fade Out has at least made it worth the wait. Everything about this record hits the spot: the lead vocals, the harmonies, the guitars, the production, and of course the songs. Jittery Jeff is smooth as silk and likeable as heck on vocals, and his flair for writing catchy, melodious love songs is fully on display. This is fun, feelgood music — even when the songs themselves aren't necessarily happy. But of course a lot of them are happy, and all in all Fade Out exudes tremendous joy. If, like me, you could listen to songs about girls until the end of time, Nite Sobs are the band for you.

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Perilous - YEAH​!​!​!


When it comes to the debut album from Buffalo, New York's Perilous, the title YEAH​!​!​! tells you pretty much everything you need to know. Right off the bat, you can expect high-spirited music that begs to be played as loudly as possible. When the email came in from guitarist extraordinaire and punk rock lifer Bob Cat, I knew the band was going to be good. Also in Perilous are Pauline on vocals, Renee on bass, and Paul on drums. YEAH​!​!​! delivers ten tracks of high energy old school punk with a big rock sound and massive pop hooks. This band isn't trying to reinvent the wheel here. It's throwing it back to the heyday of punk rock 'n' roll and doing so with tremendous power and maximum enthusiasm. Imagine taking everything you liked about the Dead Boys, Ramones, Blondie, Joan Jett, the New York Dolls, and Stooges, mixing it all together, and turning it loose in a big old ball of fire. That, my friends, is Perilous! Of course these four have a great vision for what punk rock music ought to be, but they've also got serious chops and top-quality songs. If you long for the days when rock 'n' roll was wild and dangerous, songs like "Rock & Roll Kiss," "Last Of The Dying Breed," and "Hey Baby" ought to get your heart racing and your fist pumping. YEAH​!​!​!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Wednesday, December 06, 2023

High School - Freshman 15


I always fancied myself quite the punk rock geek back in the '90s and 2000s. If there was a great band out there, I prided myself on knowing about it. So I'm quite surprised that I had no knowledge whatsoever of San Francisco-based High School, who were around from 2005 to 2007. How did none of my MySpace friends fill me in? Thankfully, High School has been rescued from the dustbin of punk history. During the COVID lockdown, the band's songwriter Ethan Shapiro (more recently of Rough Kids and Form Rank) found himself with the itch to revisit songs he'd written a decade-and-a-half prior. He started recording the songs from memory with a little help from singer Courtney Kimball's old notebooks. Other songs were reimagined, and new songs were written. Some new bandmates were recruited. And after three years of work, the debut album from High School now exists! It's called Freshman 15, and it's available from Dirt Cult Records' Bandcamp for the ridiculously cheap price of free! We can talk all day about how the pandemic sucked, but it was also a marvelous moment for artists and musicians who suddenly had time on their hands to work on passion projects. Freshman 15 definitely falls into that category. 

The 2023 version of High School features original members Shapiro and Kimball joined by Kevin Preston (The Skulls, Prima Donna), Roger Biersborn (Don Juan y Los Blancos, Los Quinceneros), and Luis Herrera (Rough Kids, Cast Of Thousands). Musically, this album couldn't be any more up my alley — think poppy punk rock meets power pop meets straight-ahead rock 'n' roll. And the songs are legit good. With High School, we get the best of both worlds: the authentic youthful spirit that first inspired these tunes and the greater experience and maturity that went into perfecting them. Kudos to Ethan Shapiro for realizing that these songs needed to be revived and recorded for posterity. If you're looking for super-fun songs about school and love and love at school, High School has got you covered. How can you not love a band whose theme song is a cover of one of the MC5's greatest tunes? Has High School succeeded in re-capturing its original magic? That is for all its old fans to decide. But in my book, they've gifted the world a timeless rock 'n' roll record.

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Saturday, November 25, 2023

The Family Township - 20th Century Wasters


Earlier this year, I reviewed an absolute smash of a single from The Family Township called "Cross the Line (Oh Andrea)." That song and ten others make up The Family Township's new album 20th Century Wasters. This long-running Boston-based band is made up of Marc W. Pinansky on vocals and guitar, John Sheeran on bass, Peter MacLean on drums, Alejandro Necochea on guitars and backing vocals, and James Rohr on keyboards and backing vocals. I would characterize The Family Township as a real rock band — something most people assume no longer exists. On its 7th full-length album, The Family Township is here to show you that big hook arena-style rock very much still exists and is, in fact, going strong. I usually refrain from quoting directly from a press release because it seems like lazy reviewing, but I can't help repeating the band's description of these songs: "Bristling with the fury and frustrations of the modern age, longing and love, layers of melody ebb and flow as each song reveals more of itself upon repeated listens." I literally could not have said it better than myself. You can tell that this band lives in the world of classic rock but isn't just trying to make something that sounds like the best rock album of 1978. If you could play and sing like these guys (Pinansky can freaking belt it!), you'd want to rock out too! Sometimes these guys go for an "FM radio hit of yore" vibe ("Youngblood," "Straight to Your Heart"). Other times they rock hard and over the top ("(It's a) Heartbreak," "Out of Control"). In all cases, they play with tremendous passion and without a trace of irony. The Family Township is a tight and powerful band with a boatload of killer tunes. If old school AOR radio still gets your blood pumping, give 20th Century Wasters 40 minutes of your time.

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Friday, November 03, 2023

Brad Marino - Grin & Bear It


It's no news flash that a new Brad Marino album is something I would be excited about. Marino has authored two albums that ranked #3 on my year-end lists, and today he releases another one that's gonna be way up there. Out on Sioux Records on vinyl and Rum Bar Records on CD, Grin & Bear It is another stone cold gem of three-chord pop rock 'n' roll. Within three seconds of "Back Again" kicking off, you just know you're listening Brad Marino. Once again, Marino manages to deliver killer tunes that have the style and spirit of early-to-mid '60s rock 'n' roll without coming off consciously "retro." The earworm title track dispenses essential life advice and red-hot guitar work. If aliens came to our planet and asked you what Brad Marino sounds like, you'd play them "Up and Up." The Kurt Baker–penned "Hung Up" is pure '60s pop — sounding like the second hit The Wonders could have had. "Looking Then" channels poppy Ramones and tells a relatable story about a faded beauty. "I'm Broke," a Marino/Baker co-write, is a mega-catchy rocker that brings back memories of The New Trocaderos. Marino puts so much of his own style into the Rolling Stones' unreleased track "She's Doing Her Thing" that you might mistake it for one of his originals (I know I sure did!). Marino also has at the Bobby Fuller Four classic "Another Sad and Lonely Night" and totally smashes it. 

Marino enlisted a slew of talented friends to help make Grin & Bear It. Geoff Palmer, Kris Rodgers, Craig Sala, Zach Sprague, Bobby Davis, and the aforementioned Baker all play on the record. Joe King sings backing vocals on "Another Sad and Lonely Night." All that formidable musical talent is in service of 11 absolutely fantastic songs. Brad Marino as a singer, songwriter, and guitar player represents everything that's great about rock 'n' roll. For this release, he has written some smash hits and mixed in a few covers that fit the album perfectly. If rockin' pop tunes are your thing, Brad Marino is your man. The Sioux LP is on white 180-gram vinyl and limited to 300 hand-numbered copies, so you'll want to jump on that while supplies last. Compact discs are available from your home of the hits, the mighty Rum Bar Records!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , ,

Sunday, October 29, 2023

Dogmatics - "I Can't Get Over You"

Well here's a Rocktober surprise for you! The mighty Dogmatics have released a single called "I Can't Get Over You" — their first new music in a year-and-a-half! This Rum Bar Records release will pump us all up for more music from Dogmatics in 2024! What I admire about Dogmatics is that they've built a body of work in recent years (2019's She's the One EP and last year's Drop That Needle EP) that stands on its own merits. Even if you'd never heard the group's classic releases, you'd still consider them one of the best rock 'n' roll bands going just based on what they've put out there since reuniting.  "I Can't Get Over You" is nothing more and nothing less than a straight-ahead rock 'n' roll tune in a timeless style. It's got a great hook, and it will get your toes tapping in no time flat. This could almost pass for some lost gem from Buddy Holly or Bobby Fuller, and that's about the highest compliment I could pay a song. Jerry Lehane sure knows how to write a three-chord rock 'n' roll tune! They say you can't get anything for a dollar anymore, but "I Can't Get Over You" is evidence to the contrary. You're gonna play the heck out of this single! 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Tuesday, October 03, 2023

Kurt Baker - Rock 'N' Roll Club


I first wrote about Kurt Baker 11 years ago, and he has consistently remained one of my favorite artists in all of music. This is the 24th time I've reviewed him as a lead artist, and no doubt there are many more of these writeups to come. Baker has repeatedly indicated that Rock 'N' Roll Club (released this past Friday on Wicked Cool Records) would be his best album yet. He and his band mates (Wyatt Funderburk, Geoff Palmer, Kris Rodgers, and Craig Sala) have delivered in full on that promise.

Baker's 2012 album Brand New Beat was perhaps the definitive release for a whole new generation of power pop. But in refusing to ever allow himself to copy that record, Baker has soared to even greater heights in the 11 years since. Never limiting himself to just one genre of music, Baker is more broadly an ambassador for classic rock 'n' roll. He's all about big hooks and timeless melodies, but he's always open to incorporating new influences and trying different things. In comparison to his previous releases, Rock 'N' Roll Club most resembles 2015's Play It Cool. It still sounds like a Kurt Baker record, but it's full of pleasant surprises and successful new wrinkles. Yet in terms of songwriting, production, and musicianship, it surpasses Play It Cool by miles. Across 12 tracks, Baker and his songwriting collaborators embrace a host of his musical influences ranging from power pop to glam rock to disco pop to arena rock to the British Invasion to punk/new wave to modern alternative rock. Baker makes zero attempt to mask his Oasis worship on the thundering leadoff rocker "Hittin' Rock Bottom." "Love Express" is Baker's second foray into disco after last year's terrific single "Move Up," and it's an even more successful venture thanks to an irresistibly funky beat and Rodgers' keyboard heroics. "Good Feeling" sounds like a slick top 40 hit from the later '80s, and I am here for it! "Go Getter" finds Baker leaning into his well-established love for Cheap Trick. On closing track "It Was You," Baker goes for a big ballad and totally smashes it. With its grand strings and sentimental lyrics, it's the kind of song that could have been unbearably cheesy in the hands of lesser songwriters. But Baker and Funderburk crafted this one with care. Baker's vocal gives the track the tenderness and sincerity it deserves, and that melody cannot be denied. All in all, it's a genuine and beautifully-executed ballad. You could almost say this is Baker's "Wonderwall" or "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)," and the influence of the former is especially palpable. 

A major strength of Rock 'N' Roll Club is that the surprising tracks aren't just different for difference's sake. They are truly some of the best songs on the album. Whenever Baker and the gang commit to trying something new, they also commit to doing it well. And they certainly have the musical chops to pull it all off. Meanwhile, the album has still got plenty to offer longtime fans. "Missed Connection," "In Love Alone," and "She Don't Wanna Be Alone" hearken back to Baker's classic power pop sound. "Anchors Up," which Baker wrote with Geoff Palmer, is a perfect pop song that's indicative of Baker's maturity as an artist. Even after having had the track on my radar for four months, every time I hear it, I'm wowed by how freaking good it is. The title track, penned by the late Kip Brown, is both a fitting tribute to a Maine rock 'n' roll icon and the beating heart of the album. If you long for the heyday of the big, hooky rock 'n' roll record, Kurt Baker is here to let you know we're still living in it.

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Sunday, September 10, 2023

Friends Of Cesar Romero & The Manxx - split


Hey kids! Are you ready for some rock n' roll that's money-back guaranteed to set your soul on fire? Snappy Little Numbers Quality Audio Recordings has brought us a killer collaboration between the mighty Friends of Cesar Romero and Colorado-based garage rockers The Manxx. FOCR is such a versatile project. You never know what you're gonna get from J. Waylon and friends. Sometimes it's perfect power pop. Other times it's punchy pop-punk or '60s-influenced melodic guitar pop. On this release, FOCR finds itself poised to blow the doors off the garage. On "You Lied (Now You're Gonna Cry)", J. Waylon is joined by Dug Two Bulls who rips it up on the organ. This is familiar lyrical territory for FOCR. But instead of coming off melancholy or woebegone, J. Waylon sounds defiant and totally fired up. This is a garage rocker that comes on like a firecracker. Imagine "Louie Louie" if you could understand the words. With its irresistible guitar and organ riffs and sing-along chorus, this is ten-out-of-ten caliber garage rock! Up next, FOCR teams up with Sara from The Manxx for an inspired rendition of The Drags' "Feel Real Good." The title is truth in advertising. You will rarely come across a more thrilling 55 seconds of rock n' roll. To finish, The Manxx fully matches FOCR's intensity with the exhilarating "You're Losing Me." I think the reason I don't review a lot of modern garage rock is because it doesn't often hit me the way this song does. "You're Losing Me" attains levels of attitude and unstoppable rhythmic energy that are rare in modern music. Just push play, and you've got yourself an instant party. What an amazing EP! If these three tracks don't immediately have you dancing around the house and screaming for utter joy, you might want to check yourself for a pulse.

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Friday, August 25, 2023

Brad Marino - "Lucy"


The man is back! Brad Marino is set to release a new album called Grin and Bear It this fall. Out today is "Lucy," the first single from the new record. For this track, he's mining the gold of classic '60s pop. Marino's ability to write fantastic new material in this old school rock n' roll style is quite impressive. "Lucy" manages to evoke the joy and timelessness of oldies radio without trying too hard to be "retro." This track is a total earworm with instant sing-along appeal. Marino does triple duty on guitar, bass, and keyboards. Zack Sprauge on drums is awesome as always. This song is a stone cold hit! Grin and Bear It will be out November 3rd — on vinyl on Sioux Records and compact disc on Rum Bar Records!


Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Saturday, July 29, 2023

Classic Pat - La Bamba


Now this was a super cool idea! Classic Pat (guitarist in one of my favorite bands, The Putz) has covered the La Bamba movie soundtrack in its entirety! It's the second installment in his Why Not? series (he previously covered Tiffany's self-titled album from 1987). The La Bamba soundtrack was an absolutely crucial album in my musical education. In 1987, I was 16 years old and still a classic rock/metal kid. After purchasing the La Bamba tape and listening to it daily, I became fanatical about listening to oldies radio and learning about early rock n' roll (the rest is history, I suppose). And of course I became a huge van of Ritchie Valens, who remains one of my favorite first generation rock and rollers. Because I listened to that soundtrack so many times, returning to it now is like catching up with an old friend. Classic Pat does a great job with these songs. His renditions are faithful, yet they've also been punked up a little. And that makes perfect sense when you think about the way '50s rock n' roll and doo wop influenced so many pop-punk bands. As groups like The Beatersband are demonstrating today, pop-punk and early rock n' roll belong together (pun fully intended). And Pat's interpretation of this material acknowledges that. His version of Valens' "Donna" fits in just as nicely alongside The Young Hasselhoffs or Vista Blue as it would on an oldies playlist. I've often claimed Buddy Holly as the true father of pop-punk, and this album's version of "Crying, Waiting, Hoping" evidences that idea fully. Pat's take on "La Bamba" (which, as arranged by Valens, would massively influence garage rock and punk) is totally killer. While "Why not?" may be the concept, this album is no joke. If you grew up on the La Bamba soundtrack (and movie) as I did, this version will give you warm feelings. But anyone who loves timeless and tuneful rock n' roll should enjoy the heck out of this release. 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Friday, July 28, 2023

Kurt Baker - "Rock 'N' Roll Club"


Woo hoo! We've got another smoking new single from Kurt Baker'! "Rock 'N' Roll Club" is the title track from Baker's new album, which will be out September 29th on Wicked Cool Records. The song was written by the late Kip Brown, an absolute legend of Portland, Maine rock 'n' roll. You may recall that the Brown-penned banger "Sends Me To Mars" was the leadoff track to Baker's third album Play It Cool. "Rock 'N' Roll Club" is the same caliber of song, and again Baker has the honor of sharing his beloved friend's songwriting talents with the world. If you like it when Baker and the boys rock out, this tune will be up your alley. Accompanying the release of the single is a music video directed Wyatt Funderburk. It was shot during the Kurt Baker Band's tour of Spain earlier this year. I really dig the way the video captures the vibe of the song. It includes footage from some actual clubs that totally lives up to how I imagine live rock 'n' roll being in Spain! What a tune, and what a great freaking band! This album is gonna be a monster. Click here to pre-order!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Thursday, July 13, 2023

The Ape-Ettes - Simply The Ape-Ettes


Out today on two most excellent labels (Reta Records and Snappy Little Numbers) is the first vinyl release from Sudbury, Ontario's The Ape-Ettes. The Ape-Ettes are Julie (guitar, vocals), Melanie (drums), and Andrée (bass). They released a really fantastic album back in 2017 which I'm just now discovering and totally loving. The new 7", titled Simply The Ape-Ettes, is an absolute treat for anyone who enjoys punk-influenced garage rock (that's just about all of you reading this, right?). It delivers four songs that are all equally good in different ways. "Trampoline" is a straight-ahead rocker and a good, old-fashioned breakup song. With its punchy guitars, clever lyrics, and bad-ass vocal, it has the feel of a song that would be a radio hit if they still played real rock and roll on the radio. "Rémi" is more of a high energy power pop rock and roll number. It's a real toe-tapper and a super fun song in general — with lyrics that are an affirmation for cool moms everywhere. "Inner Child" is a groovy psychedelic pop song about the importance of self-love. Who can argue with that? Bringing it all home is "Hearing Protection," a punky garage pop anthem pondering the importance of aging gracefully and the literal hearing risks of playing in a punk rock band. What a delight this record is! These are thoughtful, profound songs, and they'll get you dancing to boot! Simply The Ape-Etttes is simply a smash! The 7" is extremely limited and comes in two gorgeous variants: sky blue vinyl and clear vinyl with red and sky blue splatter. Get yourself a copy while the getting's good!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , ,

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Stef + The Sleeveens - "Give My Regards To The Dancing Girls"


On their debut record, Nashville's Stef + The Sleeveens thrill with a pair of infectious & life-affirming rock and roll tunes. Stef is Dublin-born songwriter Stefan Murphy (The Mighty Stef). The Sleeveens are Ryan Sweeney (Cheap Time, Hans Condor, Sweet Time Records) on drums, Eli Steele (Sweet Knives) on guitar, and Jamie Mechan on bass. "Give My Regards To The Dancing Girls," out now on Sweet Time Records, features an A-side that is hands down one of the year's best songs. I was intrigued by the idea of a single clocking in at over five minutes. That intrigue quickly turned to pure delight once the music started. "Give My Regards To The Dancing Girls" is an epic rocker inspired by the pandemic — a moment in time when the very idea of dancing in public spaces and living joyfully seemed under great threat. This song is nothing less than an anthem. Murphy sings with tremendous passion and conviction while The Sleeveens rock out like there's no tomorrow (holy cow — that lead guitar!). I can't help getting teary-eyed hearing lyrics like these:

Give my regards 
To the dancing girls
And all you dancing people 
All over this world 
May you reap ten times the love
The love that you sow
And may there be sweet music 
Every place you go

Are those words to live by, or what? If you believe in the power of rock and roll to lift the soul and bring deeper meaning to human existence, this is absolutely the song for you. Combining Murphy's poetry and vocal presence with the driving energy of a first rate punky rock and roll garage band proves to be a winning recipe. On the B-side, the mid-tempo punk-pop tune "Small Talk With Jonathan" is literally about hanging out with Jonathan Richman after a show. I'm assuming it's based on a true story, and it's every bit as fun and uplifting as you'd expect a song about Jonathan Richman to be. If this record doesn't make you smile, you are most definitely dead inside. Mechan engineered and produced these tracks at his 302 Sounds studio in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, and they sound totally amazing. You can't ask for a better debut record than this. It's good to know a full-length album is coming in 2024!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: ,

Saturday, July 08, 2023

Guerrilla Teens - Under The Dagger


Here it is, my friends: the long-awaited debut album from Portland, Oregon's mighty Guerrilla Teens. Comprised of Scott "Deluxe" Drake on vocals, Jeff Fieldhouse on guitar, Saul Koll on guitar, Tim Connolly on drums, and Anna Andersen on bass, this is one of the most impressive band lineups you'll ever come across in the world of rock and roll. Just as Lovesores were never The Humpers, Guerrilla Teens are not Lovesores. This is a new band for a new time. But if you've followed the career of Scott "Deluxe" Drake over the decades, you should have a pretty good idea of what to expect from Guerrilla Teens. This band first surfaced during lockdown times and released several demos on Bandcamp which have long since disappeared. Last year saw the band's first official release, a superb 7" called "Halfway To Maybe." And now the long player Under The Dagger has been unveiled, with CDs available soon and a vinyl release from Sioux Records also in the works. 

The album's ten tracks were co-written by Drake and Fieldhouse — one of the most legendary songwriting duos in the history of punk music. While the sound of this record is definitely more polished and refined than anything ever released by The Humpers, it still lives in that sweet spot where '70s punk meets sweaty, raucous rock and roll. Drake still hollers with a conviction and venom that most punk screamers half his age could only hope to muster up. You hear that voice on record, and you know exactly who it is. And my god, Fieldhouse and Koll form a guitar tandem that just can't be beat in the punk rock universe. In comparison to previous Drake–fronted albums, Under the Dagger is probably the most mature but by no means tamer. Pure blistering speed has given way to a controlled, slow-burning fury that will consume anything in its path. I remember a few of these tracks as demos. And sure enough, they're way better as finished products. You can tell the band worked hard to perfect this material and produce a recording they could be proud of. There are certain songs (e.g. "Concrete Face" and "Black Weather") that will surely have longtime Drake fans screaming for joy. Other tracks hint at a more melodic sensibility without sacrificing any of the grit or ferocity. I won't quite say that "Tell Me What To Do" is "pop," but it's undoubtedly tuneful. "Tell It to the Wind" reminds me quite a bit of The Saints, and I'm sure not complaining. The title track, to me, can hang with just about any song that Drake and Fieldhouse have ever co-written. 

Having done the best they could with socially-distanced recording methods in pandemic times, clearly Guerrilla Teens were raring for the smoke to clear so they could hit the stage again and properly record some music that would capture their essence. Under The Dagger definitely captures their essence, and it's a master class effort of real deal punk rock and roll. If these ten songs don't get your heart racing, you may need to consult a medical professional. 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Monday, June 26, 2023

The Master Plan - Grand Cru


On the heels of last year's summer smash single "Ooh Baby Ooh," the greatest of all garage rock supergroups now receives the full-length treatment from the mighty and renowned Rum Bar Records. Comprised of The Dictators' Andy Shernoff, The Fleshtones' Keith Streng and Bill Milheizer, and Waxing Poetics' Paul Johnson, The Master Plan is a long-running institution of timeless rock and roll. The newly-issued compact disc Grand Cru is an absolute monster of an album — as it should be since it cherry-picks ace tracks from the band's long out-of-print LPs Colossus Of Destiny and Maximum Respect. Shernoff, Streng, and Johnson all contribute songs, and the cover selections (Family's "Second Generation Woman" and Wendy Rene's "Bar-B-Q" along with the aforementioned rave-up rendition of The Hollywood Flames' "Ooh Baby Ooh") are all formidable. The talent in this band's lineup is of course staggering. All of these players are in vintage form and perfect sync as they kick up a soul-stirring mix of doo-wop, late '50s/early '60s rock and roll, rhythm & blues, garage rock, and surf. To say that the typical Rum Bar fan will enjoy this disc would be the understatement of the year. And the timing of this release could not be more perfect: this album was made to be the soundtrack to your 2023 summertime fun. It's hard to single out individual tracks given how bulletproof this entire album is. That said, Shernoff's "14th Street" would hold its own on any oldies radio station. Streng's "I Wanna Feel Something" will definitely have you feeling something: most likely joy or excitement or momentary invincibility. Johnson's "You're Mine" kicks up enough energy to wake the dead. It's probably sacrilegious to say that "What's Up With That?" surpasses the version from The Dictators'  D.F.F.D., but my ears can't lie.  

Featuring exclusive original album cover art by the great Cliff Mott and packaged with a double-sided foldout poster insert, Grand Cru is a must-own package for fans of The Master Plan, Dictators, Fleshstones, and rock and roll in general. These tracks were mastered by Kurt Bloch and sound like a million bucks plus tax. This is an album to blare while you're manning the grill, drinking by the pool, partying on the beach, or driving with the windows down on a perfect summer's day. If you seek nothing more and nothing less than garage rock at its absolute finest, this is the best 13 dollars you'll ever spend.

Posted by at 1 comment:
Labels: , , ,

Sunday, June 18, 2023

Norcos Y Horchata - Aloha Motherfuckers


It's no secret that Norcos Y Horchata is one of my favorite bands. I urge anyone who doesn't already own the band's album Forever Disheveled to acquire it as soon as possible. This is a band that plays gritty Midwestern punk rock and roll with heart, smarts, and a wonderfully unique sense of humor. In just the last couple years, Amado has gone from being one of my favorite guitar players to being one of my favorite present-day songwriters. When Alex Kish and I had the chance to interview Norcos Y Horchata for Born Too Late earlier this year, that was a proud moment for me. During that interview, the band teased an upcoming EP. I am pleased to say that said EP, titled Aloha Motherfuckers, has arrived. And it absolutely smokes! Aloha Motherfuckers kicks off with a title track that is nothing short of an anthem. This rip-roaring love letter to Detroit is perhaps the finest track that NYH has produced to date. "Everyone's An Expert" is the ultimate song for our times and is so dead-on that it hurts. The band's previous track "...Out For Smokes" struck me as the most profound song yet written about what ails the world today. "Everyone's An Expert" could almost be considered a sequel, and it sure hits the nail on the head. Finishing out the EP with a big blast of punk rock fun is "I Gave Up Drinking For Good (Now I'm Drinking for Evil"). It's not easy for a song to live up to a title like that, but this one sure does. 

With a big boost from recording engineer Dan Kinnaley and mastering engineer Gabe Usery, Norcos Y Horchata has attained its strongest-ever sound on record. And song-wise, Aloha Motherfuckers is nothing but home runs. In addition to the digital release this past Friday, this EP will have a vinyl release next month. The 7" will be limited to 300 copies, so you might want to get your pre-orders in now via Bandcamp. Those of you outside the United States should email the band to arrange your purchase. This bad boy is gonna go fast. I pity the fool who isn't hip to Norcos Y Horchata! 

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , ,

Saturday, June 17, 2023

Danny The K - "Roller Derby Girl"

 


Danny The K is no stranger to readers of this blog. At least three of his bands (Watts, The Peppermint Kicks, and The Shang Hi Los) have garnered rave reviews from my desk, and it's no stretch to consider him one of the finest songwriters in contemporary rock and roll. When I heard that Dan was doing a solo release, I was excited to hear what he was up to. He's got everything from hooky glam and arena rock to Clashy punk to classic power pop in his bag of tricks. The title of lead single "Roller Derby Girl" had me thinking along the lines of power pop and '70s bubblegum  — something very close to the songs he wrote for The Peppermint Kicks. When I heard the song, I was not disappointed. "Roller Derby Girl" is textbook power pop and a legit song-of-the-summer contender. This, my friends, is classic Dan Kopko: a riff-o-rama earworm laden with silky harmonies and more hooks than The Home Depot. This, along with the rest of the upcoming Cigarettes & Silhouettes EP, is 100% Danny's baby. He wrote, played, and produced every note. But even with complete creative control, he has not strayed from what he does best. Any fan of his bands is guaranteed to dig solo Danny The K as well. If you love power pop or any kind of hooky rock and roll, "Roller Derby Girl" will be heaven to your ears. Cigarettes & Silhouettes releases July 14 on Rum Bar Records!

Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)